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RV 60 (Rh) If a noun has more than one modifier the relational affix /y(ə)-/ is prefixed to the first one only, e.g. If, however, the modifiers are separated by /-(ı)nna/ 'and' or other conjunctions the relational affix is prefixed to both modifiers, e.g. The relational prefix /y(ə)-/ is not used after prepositions and prefixes, and the possessive relationship is then indicated simply by the word order, e.g. The prefix /y(ə)-/ is affixed to all the independent pronouns (Note 3.1) to form the 'possessive pronouns', e.g. /yəne/ 'mine', /yantə/ 'yours (m.)' /yəssu/ 'his', etc.

Personal pronouns can, therefore, be expressed in Amharic in two ways: The second constructions is often used to show emphasis, or to make the meaning clear when the other form would be ambiguous, e.g. /məSıhafu/ may mean 'his book' or 'the (particular) book', whereas /yəssu məSıhaf/ means 'his book' ('of his the book') only.

Note that 'American Embassy' can be said in Amharic in three ways: /yamerika embassi/ ('Embassy of America'), /amerikan embassi/, directly borrowed from English, and /yamerikan embassi/.

Note 6.2 Verb: Infinitive The infinitive is characterized by the prefix /m(ə)-/, e.g. /məTrat/ 'to call', /məhed/ 'to go', /mayət/ 'to see', etc. (for the loss of the vowel /ə/ see Note 3.3).

The use of the infinitive is often equivalent to that of English, as in /mayət ıfəllıgalləhu/ 'I want to see'. When used as a verbal noun, it may have the prefixes and suffixes characteristically attached to the nouns, as, for example in /kəməhedu bəfit/ 'before his going' (prefix /kə-/, suffix /-u/).